Canby planning commission approves memory‑care facility after revisions on parking, access and sewer connection

The Canby Planning Commission voted 5–2 to approve a conditional‑use permit (CUP 25‑03 / DR 25‑03) for a two‑story, roughly 56,500‑square‑foot senior and memory care facility at the southeast corner of South Ivy Street and Southeast 13th Avenue.

Associate Planner Brianna summarized changes the applicant made after an April 28 hearing: removal of four duplex cottages, an increase in on‑site parking to 100 spaces (the city code requires 96 for the proposed bed and staffing levels), separation of the trash enclosure from the loading area, and a minor relocation (about 10 feet) of the 13th‑Street driveway to improve internal circulation. Brianna told the commission the revised traffic analysis (using a 2031 horizon) projected a roughly 1% increase in the intersection volume‑to‑capacity ratio but that the intersection would continue to operate at a level‑of‑service B with project traffic included.

Applicant representative Danelle Eisenhart, of Eisenhart Consulting, walked commissioners through the updated site plan, turning exhibits for emergency and delivery vehicles, and the enlarged loading area. Eisenhart said the applicant redesigned landscaping and clarified the pervious‑pavement strategy to meet impervious‑surface limits.

Canby Fire District personnel — introduced in the hearing record as Mark Johnson — confirmed the fire district reviewed emergency‑vehicle maneuvering and considered the revised access and turning diagrams acceptable under the applicable provisions of the fire code. Johnson said the access design includes a mountable curb (a ‘‘pork‑chop’’) that can be negotiated by fire apparatus when necessary and noted the building footprint met code requirements for hose reach and egress distances. The city engineer’s supplemental memo asked for a sewer extension connection to serve a constrained parcel to the south; staff recommended conditioning approval on that connection and offering a system development‑charge (SDC) credit to the applicant for the work.

Neighbors who spoke at the public hearing urged caution. Craig Carpenter, who identified himself as a Densmore Estates resident, said nearby recreation events produce heavy parking demand and that neighborhood streets already experience spillover and delays during high‑use events. “1,500 cars is a ton,” Carpenter said of recent tournaments near the swim center. Neighbor Dennis Ritchie praised the increased parking but urged an additional fire hydrant on Ivy and asked that 14th Street be dead‑ended to prevent new cut‑through traffic.

In rebuttal the applicant noted the building will be fully sprinklered and will include fire doors between wings. Staff incorporated the fire‑safety and sewer‑connection conditions into a supplemental memo and recommended approval subject to those conditions.

Commissioners debated remaining issues including whether the driveway could be shifted farther east (staff and the applicant said moving it substantially would harm the emergency turnaround depth, impede stormwater facilities and reduce parking), potential nighttime impacts from emergency‑vehicle lights for adjacent homes, and how the design‑review matrix awards points for small public‑art or site‑amenity elements.

After deliberation a motion to approve the applications, including the supplemental staff memo and conditions, passed on a roll‑call vote, 5 in favor and 2 opposed. Staff will finalize findings and conditions and return final documents to the commission.

What happens next: staff will prepare final written findings and conditions consistent with the oral decision and the supplemental memo; the applicant may proceed to preconstruction and permitting steps once those conditions are met and building permits are issued.